Pay TV developer SouthTel, which is purportedly edging towards the launch of VOD:TV, a video-on-demand (VOD) service in SA, has rubbished reports of an imminent commercial introduction, saying the company is “not there yet”.
Online reports this week stated the VOD provider plans to establish a new service, VOD:TV, early next year. The service, say reports, will offer 150 hours of television per month, on a high-definition (HD) decoder.
According to one report, the launch of VOD:TV had been delayed in September 2011 in order to ensure total product efficacy before a commercial introduction.
SouthTel CEO Oscar Dube says he does not know where the information came from, and that the company was not ready to issue any public statement at this stage. “I can't talk about that at this point in time, because we don't know when the launch will be. We are not even there yet. We can't give [media] any market information now.”
Dube says there was a technical failure of SouthTel's equipment, and so there exists “no indication” of when the public could expect to see the VOD:TV service, which is publicised on SouthTel's Web site. “We can't talk about a commercial launch. We haven't even had a technical launch yet.”
However, in a 'Latest News' sidebar on SouthTel's Web site, it was announced that “SouthTel has partnered with MTN to pilot VOD”. This was followed with a brief report, titled “VOD:TV Trial Pilot”, which indicates that the VOD services are up and running. [This post has subsequently been removed.]
“Effective the month of August - Watching TV becomes part of an on-demand bundle. SouthTel started a first for Africa pilot trial Push Video On Demand service nationally. Half of the 80 decoders have already been distributed & installed across the country. Apart from Movie content & corporate advertising - Part of what we are showcasing is localised advertising through Cell Broadcast i.e. we have included advertising banners of a lady who sells cakes from home in Bryanston. The role of the television receiver is changing from only watching TV to a multipurpose content receiver (sic).” [This post has subsequently been removed.]
Dube declined to comment further, saying SouthTel would let the media and the public know when a VOD development was on the horizon.
GM of products, services and innovation at MTN SA Mike Fairon says the cellphone operator is not in a position to comment on VOD. “Suffice it to say that MTN will comment to the market on any developments when the time is appropriate.”
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